Advertising display device



Dec. 10, 1957 CARTER 2,815,597

ADVERTISING DISPLAY DEVICE Filed March 15, 1955 3 5 7i Y. INVENTOR.

2,815,597 ADVERTISING DISPLAY DEVICE Kenneth Carter, Brooklyn, N. Y. Application March 15, 1955, SerialNo. 494,390

10 Claims. (Cl, 40 -1 24 1) This invention relates to display devices of; the type used for advertising and other purposes on the counters or in the windows of retail stores, restaurants, travel agencies, etc., and it has for its object to provide a novel and improved device for this purpose.

Another object of the invention is to provide a simple and inexpensive display device of any desired size made of two flat sheets of paper, cardboard or the like, which are fabricated and joined in such a way that the assembled unit may be shipped flat but may instantly be opened to assume a highly attractive three-,dimensionalscroll shape with its own supporting stand.

Still another object is to provide a unitary scroll-type display stand of the kind mentioned, in which the face of relatively thin paper containing advertising or other display matter, and the foldable b a-ck supporting stand of relatively stiff cardboard, may each be made from flat stock in a single cutting or stamping operation, and in which the parts when joined by simple gluing provide a self-shaping and-self-supporting structure of exceptional strength and durability.

Various other objects and advantages will be apparent as the nature of the invention is more fully disclosed.

The display device of the present invention is made of two easily fabricated pieces of flat stock and comprises a back portion or support preferably of stiffcardboard or the like, and a front portion or display sheet of paper or the like containing any desired advertising or other display matter. The two pieces are assembled simply by superimposing one on the other and gluing or otherwise securing them together only at their upper and lower edges. Important features of the invention reside in the novel construction of the one-piece foldable support, and in its coaction with the display sheet in automatically shaping the latter in the form of a graceful scroll upon merely bending the support along preformed lines to form a stand.

Although the novel features which are characteristic of this invention are set forth more in detail in the claims appended hereto, the nature and scope of the invention may be better understood by referring to the following description, taken in connection with the accompanying drawing forming a part thereof, in which certain specific embodiments have been set forth'for purposes of illustration.

In the drawing:

Fig. 1 is a front perspective view of a display device embodying the'invention, as'it appears when open for dis play on a counter or in a store window;

Fig. 2 is a perspective view of the same device as viewed from the rear;

Fig. 3 is an enlarged vertical section taken on line ofFig.l;

Fig. 4 is a rear plan view showing the display device spread out flat;

Fig. 5 is a vertical section taken on line 5 --S of-Fig. 4;

Fig. 6 is a fragmentary section similar to. Fig. 3. but embodying a m dification;

States Patent 2,815,597 Patented Dec. 1Q, 1357 Fig. 7 is a broken rear plan view showing the upper portion of a display device embodying a modification of the invention; and

Fig. 8 is a broken rear perspective view of the display device shown in Fig. 7.

In the following description certain specific terms are, used for convenience in referring to the various details of the invention. These terms, however, are to be interpreted as broadly as the state of the art will permit.

The display card shown in Figs. 1 to 5 comprises a back portion or support 1 of relatively stiff cardboard or the like, and a front portion or display sheet 2 of rela-v tively thin paper or other suitable material which may bear any desired advertising or other display matter.

The support 1 and the display sheet 2 are of the same width, and they are also of the same length from top to; bottom except that the sheet 2 has enough extra length to form a turned-over edge 3 at the top which is secured to the support 1 as hereinafter described.

The formation of the rigid support 1 from a flat sheet. of cardboard or the like, which will now be described, may be performed in a single die-cutting operation which gives the support a backwardly bendable upper edge portion 4; a forwardly bendable lower edge portion 5 hav: ing an enlarged central tab 6, together constituting the base of the display device; and a pair of backwardly bendable legs 7 which extend between said edge portions. 4 and 5 at the left and right sides of the support 1 213. viewed in Fig. 4.

The backwardly bendable upper edge portion 4 is de; fined by two lines of scoring 8 extending a short dis; tance inwardly from the vertical edges of support 15 parallel to the upper edge thereof, and by slitting the area between said lines 8 to form an upwardly-projecting tab 9, as best shown in Figs. 2 and 4. All lines of scoring herein, such as the lines 8, are preferably in the form of perforations.

The forwardly bendable lower edge portion 5 is de-.. fined by two lines of scoring 10 extending a short way in from the cut-out leg .7, and by slitting the area be} tween said lines of scoring 10 to form the enlarged, cene. tral tab 6;. The inner end or apex of the tab 6 is cut off as indicated at 12 (Fig. 4) to provide a hole for the insertion of the finger-nail or other pointed object to facilitate bending. When the tab 6 is grasped and pulled down, the lower edge portion Sis bent forward upon the, lines of scoring 10 so that the. edge portion 5 (extend;- ing in front of the display device) and the tabv 6 (ex: tending rearwardly thereof) constitute a supporting base as illustrated in Figs. 2 and 3. The height of the edge portion 5 (i. e., the dimension from the bottom edge to. the scoring 10) will depend upon the extent of curvature which it is desired to impart to the display sheet 2, as will hereinafter more fully appear.

The inwardly bendable legs 7 are defined by the re-. spective vertical side edges of support 1, inner U-shaped slits 13 formnig tabs 14, slanting lines of scoring 15 and 16 above and below the tabs 14, and irregularly curved, slits 17 which extend downwardly into the lower edge portion 5 to provide the legs 7 with extremities or feet which are notched inwardly at 18 for the purpose of locking the legs together when crossed in the manner hereinafter more fully described.

Referring further to the formation of the legs 7, it will be noted from Fig, 4 that the upper lines of scoring 15. extend upwardly to the respective lines of scoring 8, and the edge of the support 1 is notched or out out at toIseparate the upper edges of legs 7 from the upper edge portion 4 of the support, permitting the legs 7 to be bent inwardly upon their respective lines of; scoring The pliable display sheet 2, containing any desired :advertising or other display matter, is secured to the front face of support 1 while the support is in the unopened fiat state shown in Figs. 4 and 5. The sheet 2 is simply placed on top of support 1 and their bottom edges are glued together as indicated by reference numeral 20 in Fig. 5, while the upper edge 3 of sheet 2 is turned over the top of the support and glued to the back of the latter as indicated by reference numeral 21. Directions for setting up the display device, or suggestions for mounting same on counters or the like, may be printed on the turned-over edge 3 of sheet 2 where they will be visible only from the back.

All that is necessary in order to set up the device is to bend the lower edge portion 5 forwardly on the scored lines 10, thus also lowering the integral central tab 6 which always remains in the same plane as edge portion 5, and then bend the legs 7 inwardly on the respective scored lines 15-l6 until their lower end or feet cross andrest on the tab 6 with the notches interlocked, as shown in Fig. 2. In thus bending out the lower edge portion 5 of support 1, the over-all height of the support is appreciably shortened, and this automatically causes the pliable, bendable display sheet 2 to billow in and out and assume the convoluted scroll shape shown in Figs. 1, 2 and 3. 7

It is not necessary to bend the upper edge portion 4 of support 1 backwardly on the scored lines 8 in the embodiment shown in Figs. 1 to 5, and, when not so bent, the edge portion 4 will be maintained in the original flat plane of the support by its frictional engagement with the tab 9 as shown in Figs. 2 and 3. In such case, furthermore, the tabs 14 need not be wide enough to actually engage the back of display sheet 2, since the display sheet will assume and retain the scroll shape shown in Figs. 1, 2 and 3 without the assistance of tabs 14. However, even under the conditions mentioned the tabs 14 are a desirable adjunct of the combination because they limit any accidental sagging or edge bending of the display sheet which would otherwise be unprotected in this area. If desired, furthermore, the upper edge portion 4 of the support may be bent backwardly on the scored lines 8 to vary the curvature of the scroll, and in such case the back of the display sheet contacts the tabs 14 which aid in shaping the scroll.

Fig. 6 shows a modification which differs from the display device previously described only in that the turned-over top edge 3 of sheet 2 is secured, as by gluing at 23, to the front face of the upper edge portion 4 of support 1 instead of to the back thereof. This is an advantage because it is easier to assemble the device in this manner, and it is preferred except when it is desired to print instructions or other matter on the turned-over edge 3 as mentioned in connection with Figs. 1 to 5. An additional advantage of the construction of Fig. 6 is that the top edge of the support 1 may be given any desired decorative shape or configuration with no increase in the cost of the die-cutting or assembling operations. In the case of the construction shown in Fig. 6 it is necessary to bend the upper edge portion 4 of support 1 backwardly on the scored lines 8 in order to shape the scroll in graceful lines over the tabs 14.

Figs. 7 and 8 show a modification of the invention which differs from Figs. 1 to 5 in the formation of the upper portion of the support 1. In this embodiment a line of scoring 24 is formed across the support at a suitable distance from the top, permitting the upper portion to be bent back on this line as shown in Fig. 8, and the upper ends of the legs 7 are die-cut to form tabs 25 which engage in slots 26 in the bent-back upper portion of the support when the legs 7 are bent inwardly to set up the display device the lower part of which is com structed as previously described.

In all embodiments of the invention the size, shape and relation of the parts may be varied considerably without materially changing the basic construction herein disclosed. For example, by merely changing the gluing area 20 by which the bottom edge of display sheet 2 is secured to support 1, the convolutions of the scroll may be varied. Various other pleasing scroll effects may also be obtained by shaping either the upper or lower edge, or both the upper and lower edges, of the device on a diagonal line, or on diverse diagonal lines, as desired.

Accordnigly, although certain specific embodiments have been shown and described herein for purposes of illustration, it will be evident to those skilled in the art that the invention is capable of various modifications and adaptations within the scope of the appended claims.

The invention claimed is:

l. A self-supporting advertising display device comprising a rigid back support and a front display sheet of pliable material superimposed one upon the other and secured together in the region of their upper and lower edges and being free from attachment in the area between said edges, the lower edge portion of said support being scored and being bendable in a forward direction to form a forward supporting base and correspondingly reduce the overall height of said device, said pliable display sheet being billowed to scroll shape in consonance with said reduced height, and a pair of backwardly bendable supporting legs formed in said support at the respective side edges thereof.

2. A display device according to claim 1, in which said legs have projecting tabs formed on their inner edges movable forwardly adjacent the back of said display sheet upon bending said legs backward to support said device.

3. A display device according to claim 2, in which the upper edge portion of said support is scored and is bendable backwardly on the scoring to vary the curvature of said display sheet.

4. A display device according to claim 3, in which the upper edge of said display sheet is turned inwardly, and in which the turned-over end portion is secured to the front of said support.

5. A display device according to claim 3, in which the upper ends of the legs have tabs engageable in slots in the bent-back upper edge portion of the support to lock the two together.

6. A display device according to claim 2, in which the forwardly bendable lower edge portion of said support has a rearwardly-projecting extension which, with the bent lower edge portion, forms a supporting base for said device.

7. A self-supporting advertising display device comprising a rigid back support and a front display sheet of pliable material superimposed one upon the other and secured together in the region of their upper and lower edges and being free from attachment in the area between said edges, the lower edge portion of said support being scored and being bendable in a forward direction to form a forward base for said device and thereby correspondingly reduce the overall height of the latter, said pliable display sheet being curved to a scroll shape in consonance with said reduced height, and a pair of backwardly bendable supporting legs formed on the opposite side edges of said support, said legs being adapted to cross and having means for securing same at the back of said device.

8. A self-supporting display device comprising a rigid flat back support and a front display sheet of flat pliable material superimposed substantially coextensive with one another in a flat state and secured together in the region of their upper and lower edges and being free from attachment in the area between said edges, the lower edge portion of said support being scored and being bendable in a forward direction to form a forward base for said device and thereby correspondingly reduce the overall height of said device, said pliable display sheet being curved to a scroll shape in consequence of said reduced height, and a pair of backwardly bendable supporting legs formed in said support at the respective side edges thereof.

9. A display device according to claim 8, in which said legs are adapted to cross at the back of said support and have notched lower extremities interengageable to lock said legs together.

10. A display device according to claim 9, in which the forwardly bendable lower edge portion of said support has a rearwardly-projecting central extension for supporting the interlocked crossed legs of said support.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Cadmus July 10, 1917 Einson Feb. 20, 1934 Herz May 1, 1951 Miller -Oct. 13, 1954 

